Collecting mechanism for rodshaped articles



June 2 0, 1944.' WPMQLINS ET AL 2,351,693

COLLECTING MECHN'ISM FOR ROD SHAPED ARTICLES Filed May 15, 1941 3 Sheefi-Sheet l ,'43 100 1 I",LI

June 20, 1944. D. w. MOLINS ET AL COLLECTING MECHANISM FOR ROD SHAPED ARTICLES Filed May 13, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I fiwrenior 3:5. M 46%? MM June 20, 1944. D; 'w MQLI ET AL 2,351,693

COLLECTING MECHANISM FOR ROD S I- IAPED ARTICLES Filed May 13, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet J5 fmren? r 5 ML 1 7?. MAW

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Patented June 20, 1944 COLLECTING MECHANISM FOR ROD- SHAPED ARTICLES Desmond Walter Molins, Flix Frdric Ruau, and

Samuel Robert Chown, Deptford, London, England,. assignors to Molins Machine Company Limited, Deptford, London, England Application May 13, 1941, S erial No. 393,298 In Great Britain May18, 1940 Claims.

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to collecting mechanism.

It is to be understood that when a receptacle is stated to be filled it is not necessarily completely full.

According to the present invention there is provided collecting mechanism of the kind referred to, wherein an article-distributor is supported above the path of the receptacle which is being filled and is arranged to move into the receptacle with a component of movement in the direction of movement of the latter so as to move articles in the receptacle away from the inclined guide andtowards the leading wall of the receptacle. A leveller-device (e. g. a fixed guide or guides) may be disposed above the path of a receptacle which is being filled and arranged to extend in the direction of movement of the receptacle, said levelling-device co-operating with the article-distributor to determine the height of the articles in a receptacle as the latter becomes filled with articles.

A downwardly depending-element may be mounted for movement towards the article-distributor by articles being delivered to the receptacle', the depending-element and the articledistributor being so constructed that the articleengaging surfaces thereof intersect for the purpose of aligning articles so that the longitudinal axes of the articles are substantially parallel with the bottom of the receptacle to which they are being delivered.

The rear surface of the article-distributor may be provided witha rib or ribs which is or are parallel with the bottom of a receptacle which is being filled and normal to the direction of movement of the receptacle during the filling operation. The article-engaging surface of the depending-element may be provided with a rib or ribs which is or are parallel with the bottom of a receptacle which has been filled and normal to the direction of movement of the receptacle during the filling operation. The article-engaging surface of the inclined guide may be provided with a rib or ribs which is or are parallel with the bottom of a receptacle which is being filled and'normal to the direction of movement of the receptacle during the filling operation. The article-engaging surface of the inclined guide may be provided with a rib or ribs which is or are parallel with the bottom of a receptacle which is being filled and normal to the direction of movement of the receptacle during the filling operation.

Some embodimentsof'the invention will be 56 described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a form of receptacle in which cigarettes are collected.

Figure 2 is a plan of mechanism for collecting cigarettes.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrow 4, parts of the apparatus being broken away in order to show other parts more clearly. V

Figure 4 is an end elevation to an enlarged scale looking in the direction of the arrow 5, Figure 2, the upper mechanism being omitted from the figure.

Referring to the drawings, cigarettes which are severed from a continuous cigarette rod formed on a cigarette-making machine (not shown) of the continuous rod type, are moved transversely out of the rod line and are deposited upon a catcher band 4. The catcher band moves the cigarettes transversely of their longitudinal axes and cigarettes roll off the catcher band at the delivery end thereof. At the delivery-end; the catcher band passes around a roller 5 which is supported for rotation in frames 6 supported on a base 48. For simplicity the frames 6 are shown broken away. Cigarettes falling from the catcher band engage a downwardly depending pivoted flap 1 which, when engaged by the cigarettes, moves about its pivot 8 away from the catcher band. A counterweight 9 is provided to balance the flap 1.

Around a rotatable support 10 having a fixed axis of rotation, there is arranged a plurality of paddles II which comprise cigarette-distributors. The axis of rotation of the support I0 is at a slightly lower level than the axis of rotation of the roller 5. The paddles are parallel to and offset from the axis of rotation of the support l0 and are inclined rearwardly considered in the direction of rotation of the support so that they are tangential to and equispaced around a circle concentric with the axis of rotation. The free ends of the paddles I I are moved through a path such that at the point where the free end of a paddle is closest the band 4, the distance between the latter and such free end of a paddle is slightly lessthan the combined diameters of two cigarettes. Thepivoted flap I is slotted as indicated by thereference numeral 12, seeFigure 3, so as to permit the cigarette-engaging surfaces of the paddles H and th flap 1 respectively to intersect one another when the flap 1 is moved towardstwo chains l4 and I5 which are arranged one above the other, the chains passing. around sprocket wheels I6 and H. The sprocketwheel's:

I! are connected to each other by a hub l8 which is mounted for rotation about the I spindle I93 The spindle I9 is supported -in:a:bearing 2U;v The sprocket wheels l6 are connected byahub fl' which is mounted for rotation about aspindle 22, the spindle 22 being supported in a bearing .23.

Rotation of the sprocket wheels l6 and "H is;

effected by a ratchet wheel 24 which is connected with the lower sprocket wheel IS. The "ratchet wheel 24;is rotated .by two ratchet pawls 25 and 26 which areeccentrically mounted on a spindle 21 thelatter beingdriven byan electrical motor, not shown. Theelectrical motor drives only the collecting mechanism. The pawls 25 and Rare urged inwardly towards the teeth of the ratchet wheel by springs 28 and29. The ratchetwheel drive .is of conventional form and not new.

The rotatable support I0 is also driven from. thespindle 21., the drive for the supportb'eing effected through a worm 30mounted on the spindle 21, ,the drive for the support being .efiected through'a'worm 30 mounted on the spindle 21, a wormwheel 3| mounted on a stud 32, a V pulley 33'isal'so mounted on the stud 32, a further V pulley 34 (seeFigure 3) mounted on the spindle 35 oftherotatable' support land a belt 36 which connects the pulleys 33 and 34.

The "receptacles Rarearran'ged to be. carried in"- supp'orts. driven by the chains I4 and I5. These supports comprise U shaped straps v3! which support and are secured to cross-bars 38 and '39; J shapedmembers lll and 4| into which the receptaclesfitwitha -push fit are themselves ise-i cured'to the cross-"bars'fia and 39; To each of the receptacles'there is secured a pair'of steps 42 and '43 "and the receptacles are movable relatively to the conveyor in-the direction of move ment thereof tc-the extent permitted by the stops 42 and 43. 1

Atthe bottomof'the'receptacle there is pro-- vided aflexiblystrip's. The'strip lies-along the bottom of the receptacle and the opposite'ends of the strip extend downwardly as shown in the drawings. In order that 'thestrips do not foul theabutting'receptacles; the-latter are cut away as in'dicatedby---the--reference numeral IUI. If desired, a plurality of flexible strips maybe contained in a receptacle, the strips being superimposed-one upon the oth'erasindicated in'Figure' 1: The strips'are. preferably of paper ortextile material. andwhen' the cigarettes are delivered intolthe'receptacle theyaredelivered on to the uppermoststrip at thebottom of-the receptacle. The purpose :of'Lmaking the receptacle movable relatively .to the conveyor-mechanism is to permit the :oppositeends' ofithe uppermost strip'to be gripped and :drawn about :thecigarettes in the receptacle to enable .the cigarettes to be removed from the receptacle after the latter has beenfilled, withoutzthe necessity of efiecting thexcomplete removal of a-receptacle from the conveyor-mechanism. By 'providingarplurality of strips the op-'- eratoris. relieved .ofahaving'toplace a' strip in positionwhenevera receptacle is emptiedz' When,

however, strips S are not employed, the receptacles can, if desired, be lifted bodily out of the J shaped members and either emptied and replaced or the removed, filled receptacles can be replaced by other empty receptacles.

While-the receptacles; are movi-ng along the straight portionsof the runof the conveyor, the receptacles, which are similar to that shown in Figure 1 and which have straight, vertical end walls, are as can be seen from Figures 3 and 4, inzaendwiseabuttin'g relationship with each other andthe'rear stops 43 engage the J shaped members'r lll' (SeeFigureA). The chains 14 and I5 arezguided lduring.the straight portion of their run by guides 44-and45.

In order to support the weight of the receptaclesduring-and. after filling thereof, the crossbars 39.support vertical bars 46 at the lower end of each of which there is mounted a roller 41. Tli'e roll'ers 41 engage the base 48 on which the collecting. apparatus isimounted. To-the bottom of each receptacleethereuis.secured .a ro1ler 49 which. engages withsa trackfifl :while the receptacle is beingmovedaround the sprockets .l 6 and-- H," the track serving to guide the receptacles around-thisnportion..of .the path. The:.ends-of the strips slide1over the b'ase48 andmovement of thereceptaclescauses them .to .trail on the base 48,'. The'space between the roller 49 and the base 48 prevents the .strips fouling=the roller :49.

Ascan-beseenfrom Figures 3 .and 5-, the opposite .endsloflth'e receptacles-Bram provided with slots lfilLlthese .slotsLpermitti-ng the-passage of the receptacles pasta downwardly inclined guide 52.1whichl .is secured to a. bracket .53 supported by, the .frames .6 and directs cigarettes into the receptacle which'is beingfllled, The slotted-ends oil-thereceptacles thereforecomprise spaced elements. which extend upwardly andoutwardly.

The word. outwardly when used in connection with .the. spaced; elementsimthe claims, means in an endwise direction .fromthe basesof thereceptacle .whichwsupports thestrips. In the construction'shown inFigure 1,. the spaced elements commencessome distance inwardly. from the end wall,1since the bottom of (the .receptacleis also slottedhear the-end walls. It will be seem-therefore, that in. the construction shown. in Figure .1, the spacedlelementsextend upwardly: and outwardly, the lower end portionsbeing directed outwardly. Thelower endportioncould, if necessary, be horizontal and theremighteven be a radius between .thehorizontal .andvertical portions. In allffisuch. cases thesespaced elements can be said to extend upwardly and outwardly as shown,

The inclinedguide extendsdownwardly almost to the bottom of La receptacle. The paddles II are provide'dwith ribs :54 and the flap I and in-. clinedlguide'5'2 are respectively provided with similar ribs 55 .andf56. The ribs are so arranged that they. are parallelfto the bottom of .the receptaclewhlch is being filled. and they arenormal to the direction of movement-ofthat receptacle;

A detectoredevice. is: provideto .stop. the electrical motor driving the collecting-mechanism should thesupply of 'cigarettes on the band 4 cease. This detector-device comprises a flap 5'! which is pivoted at 58 -andcounterbalancedby a weight 59gfltheflap being moved upwardly away from. the .band 4 by the passage of cigarettes being deliveredflto a: receptacle .and' whichlaccumulate-under theflap-fil due to the shape of its free end (as shown in Figure 4) before it can lift, Shou1d..there,.asshown in Figure 4; be'no cigarettes on the band, the flap 51 engages the band 4. To the spindle 58 there is connected a mercury switch 60 and this switch controls the electrical motor.

A pair of guides Bl having upturned ends 62 comprise a leveller-device which is disposed above the receptacle being filled. The guides extend in the direction of movement of the receptacle and are so arranged as to co-operate with the paddles H to determine the height of the cigarettes in the receptacle as the latter becomes filled.

Side guides 63 are provided to prevent undue endwise movement of the cigarettes during their movement from the band 4 into a receptacle, and .3

fit over strip 530 on the receptacles to keep the latter accurately aligned.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows. The receptacles to be filled are positioned in endwise abutting relationship as shown in Figures 3 and 4 by sliding them till the stops 43 engage the strops 31 and the lower end of the inclined guide 52 is located near to the bottom front corner of the leading receptacle. The front wall of the receptacle and the guide 52 form a substantially V shaped space for the reception of cigarettes from the band 4. It is preferable, particularly when filling deep receptacles to arrange for this V shaped space to be manually filled before the automatic filling commences. It is, however, to be understood that this is only necessary when the operation of the apparatus is first commenced, because once the first receptacle has been filled, provided that the succeeding receptacles all approach the filling position in endwise abutting relationship, the filling of the successive receptacles will be continuous while the supply of cigarettes is maintained. The lengthwise movement of the receptacles by the conveyor is correlated with the rate at which cigarettes are normally L delivered by the band 4 so that the volume of cigarettes arriving equals in space the volume of receptacle space passing the guide 52.

Starting from the point at which the V shaped space is manually filled, the chains 14 and I5 move the receptacles slowly and intermittently forward and cigarettes fall from the delivery end of the band 4 towards the receptacle being filled. Some of the cigarettes fall directly between the free ends of the paddles II and the band 4 towards the inclined guide 52. These cigarettes are straightened up relatively to the receptacle by engagement with the bars 55 and 55. Some of the cigarettes coming as they do in a mass move against the pivoted flap l and urge the latter towards the paddles H so that the cigarette engaging surfaces of the pivoted flap and the paddles intersect each other. The intersecting surfaces tend to straighten up, relatively to the receptacle, those cigarettes which do not fall directly towards the receptacle and the ribs 54 on the paddles H further assist in the straightening operation. Thus there is a mass of cigarettes held in the space above the intersecting paddles and fiap on the one side and the band 4 on the other. Since the ends of the paddles II is more than the diameter of one cigarette from the band 4, the paddles as they move down will not damage or crush the cigarettes.

As the receptacle moves forwardly the cigarettes have a tendency, particularly when the receptacles are relatively deep receptacles, to move downwardly away from the leading end of the receptacle so that a dip is formed in the upper level of the cigarettes in the receptacle. The paddles cigarettes.

H oper'ate to tend to maintain thelevel of the cigarettes in the receptacle, pressing downwardly on the cigarettes in the vicinity of the upper end of the inclined guide 52 and moving-them away from the guide and-bodily towards the leading end of the receptacle. The guides 6| co-operate with the paddles in this levelling operation by limiting the extent of upward movement of the wall of the receptacle and-into the slot formed in the front wall of the next succeeding receptacle. Thus, as the receptacle moves away from the filling position, the second receptacle receives There is, of course, a period when the first and second receptacles are simultaneously receiving cigarettes. During the transition from the first to the second receptacle, the paddles tend to prevent the accumulation of cigarettes on the upper edges of the receptacles. If desired, however, the chains l4 and I5 may be driven by a variable speed mechanism which automatically increases the speed at which the receptacles are moved during the change of feeding from the first to the second receptacle. For

example as described below, the electrical motor goes through the mercury switch 60 and then to a motor 20| and to a resistance 202 and a switch arm 203 back to the mains. Normally (i. e. during filling'of the middle portion of a tray) the switch arm 203;is at the left or chain line position. When the receptacles reach a position when the feeding changes from one conveyor to another, a plate or cam 204 fixed to the outer side of each receptacle strikes a spring controlled lever 205 fixed to the switch arm 203. The resistance 202 is arranged as a rheostat over which a contact on the switch arm 203 moves to reduce the resistance as the switch arm moves in an anticlockwise direction.

The length of the plate will be such as to limit the period during which the motor is speeded up to that desired in any particular case. Thus, as the switch arm is moved from left to right along the resistance, so the speed of the motor 20! is increased. As can be seen from the drawings, the

motor 20! drives the spindle 21 by a belt 206 where it would be effective at the desired time for the purpose in view. A stop 209 is provided to limit the extent of movement of the switch arm 203 and lever arm 205 under the influence of a coil tension spring 2 I 0.

If it is desired to increase the speed of the motor more rapidly than by the'apparatus shown,

this can be achieved by reducing the length of the lever 205. Preferably the speed to which the motor is increased-is twicettha-t of the speed at which it'iS- operatedvwhendriving the mechanism for normal: running.

When a receptacle, has; been filled, .itis.- moved tothe opposite: side of the runof the. chains l4, l5, thatis the sideshown in the lower part of Figure 8. The receptacle can'th'en beshifted manually ,soas. to cause it to move rearwardlyaway' from the other receptacle'supported-onthat side of the run. The opposite ends of the uppermost strip S can then be lifted upwardly by the. ma-

.must be soarrangedthat suificient space is left between the bottom ofsucceeding receptacles. to

provide room for'the strips and yetensure that the top portions of succeeding receptacles abut so as toprevent cigarettes, falling between the two receptacles.

.It'Will, however, beappreciatedthat theuse-of flexible strips in conjunction with receptacles is not limited to constructions in which receptacles aremoved incontinuous; closedpaths.

What we claim as our'invention'anddesire to secure by Letters. Patent is:

V l. Collecting-mechanism comprising in combination, means to move-articles transversely to their longitudinal axes to a delivery position, means to move a receptacle lengthwise "below said position so that articles are delivered first into one endof the receptacle and thereafter to successive positions along the length of the receptaclaa downwardly inclined guideto direct articles into a receptacle, and an article-distributor-supported above the path" of a receptacle, means supporting said article-distributor for movement forwardly into the'receptacle with a component of movement in the direction of movement of the latter so as to'move: articles in the receptacle away from the inclined guide and towards-the. leading wall-of the receptacle.

2. Collecting-mechanism comprising in combination, means to move articles transversely to their longitudinal axes. to a delivery position,

means to -move a receptacle lengthwise below saidv position so that articles aredeliveredifirst into one end of a. receptacle and thereafter to successive positions along the length of the receptacle, a downwardly inclinedguide to direct articles into a receptacle, an article-distributor supported above the path of. areceptacle, means supporting said article-distributor for movement forwardly into thelreceptacle with acomponent of movement in the direction of movement of. the latter so as to move articles in the receptacle away from the inclined guide and towards the leading wall of the receptacle, and a leveller-device extending lengthwise inthe direction of movement of the. receptacle which is being filled, said levelling-device co-operating with the article-distributor to determine the height of the articles in a receptacle.

3. Collecting-mechanism. comprising in combination ,.means to move articles transversely to their longitudinal axes to a delivery position,

means to move areceptacle lengthwise below said position so that articles are delivered first into one end of a receptacle and thereafter to successive positions along the length of the receptacle, a downwardly inclined guide to direct articles into a receptacle, an article-distributor supported above the path of a receptacle and arranged to move with a component of movement in the direction of movement of the latter so as to move articles in a receptacle away from the inclined guide and towards the leading wall of the receptacle, and a downwardly-depending element mounted for movement towards the articledistributor by articles being delivered to a receptacle, the said depending-element and the article-distributor being so constructed that the article engaging surfaces thereof Intersect for the purpose of aligning articles with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel with the bottom of the receptacle to which they are being delivered.

-4;-Collecting mechanism comprising in combination, means to move articles transversely to their longitudinal axes to a delivery position, meansto move areceptacle lengthwise below said position so that articles are delivered first into one end of a receptacle and thereafter to succesrive positions along the length of the receptacle, a downwardly inclined guide to direct articles into a receptacle, an article-distributor supported above the path of a receptacle and arranged to move with a component of movement in the direction of movement of the latter so as to move articles in a receptacle away from the inclined guide and towards the leading wall of the receptacle, a downwardly depending element mounted for movement towards the article-distributor by articles being delivered to a receptacle, the said depending-element and the article-distributor being so constructed that the article-engaging surfaces thereof intersect for the purpose of aligning articles with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel with the bottom of the receptacle to which they are being means to'move a receptacle lengthwise below said position so that articles are delivered first into one end of a receptacle and thereafter to successive positions along the length of the receptacle, a downwardly inclined guide to direct articles into a receptacle, a rotatable support, and a plurality of paddles mounted on the support for movement therewith, said paddles being supported for movement in the receptacle with a component of movement in the direction of movement of the receptacle which is being filled so as to move articles in the receptacle away from said inclined guide and'towards the leading wall of the receptacle.

6, Collecting mechanism comprising in combination, means to move articles transversel to their longitudinal axes to a delivery position, means-to move a receptacle lengthwise below said position so that articles are delivered first into one endof a receptacle and thereafter to successive positions along the length of the receptacle, a

downwardly inclined guide to direct articles into a receptacle, a rotatable support, a plurality of paddles mounted on the support for movement therewith, said paddles being supported for movement in the receptacle with a component of movement in the direction of movement of a receptacle which is being filled so as to move articles in a receptacle away from said inclined guide and towards the leading wall of the receptacle, and a leveller-device extending lengthwise in the direction of movement of a receptacle which is being filled, said levelling-device co-operating with the article-distributor to determine the height of the articles in a receptacle.

7. Collecting mechanism comprising in combination, means to move articles transversely to their longitudinal axes to a delivery position, means to move a receptacle lengthwise below said position so that articles are delivered first into one end of a receptacle and thereafter to successive positions along the length of the receptacle, a downwardly inclined guide to direct articles into a receptacle, a rotatable support, a plurality of paddles mounted on the support for movement therewith, said paddles having a component of movement in the direction of movement of a receptacle which is being filled so as to move articles in a receptacle away from said inclined guide and towards the leading wall of the receptacle, a downwardly depending element mounted for movement towards the article-distributor by articles being delivered to a receptacle, the said depending element and the article-distributor being so constructed that the article engaging surfaces thereof intersect for the purpose of aligning articles with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel with the bottom of the receptacle to which they are being delivered, and a leveller-device extending lengthwise in the direction of movement of a receptacle which is being filled, said levelling-device co-operating with the article-distributor to determine the height of the articles in a receptacle.

8. Collecting mechanism comprising in combination, means to move articles transversel to their longitudinal axes to a delivery position, means to move' a receptacle lengthwis below said position so that articles are delivered first into one end of a receptacle and thereafter to successive positions along the length of the receptacle, a downwardly inclined guide to direct articles into a receptacle, an article-distributor supported above the path of a receptacle, means supporting said article-distributor for movement forwardly into the receptacle with a component of movement in the direction of movement of the latter so as to move articles in a receptacl away from the inclined guide and towards the leading wall of the receptacle, and at least one rib located on the article engaging surface of the inclined guide, said rib being parallel with the bottom of a receptacl which is being filled and normal to the direction of movement of a receptacle while the latter is being filled.

9. Collecting mechanism comprising in combination means to move articles transversely to their longitudinal axes to a delivery position,

means to move a receptacle lengthwise below said position so that articles are delivered first into one end of a receptacle and thereafter to successive positions along the length of the receptacle, ,a downwardly inclined guide to direct articles into a receptacle, an article-distributor supported above the path of a receptacle and arranged to move with a component of movement in the direction of movement of the latter so as to move articles in a receptacle away from the inclined guide and towards the leading wall of the receptacle, a downwardly depending element mounted for movement towards the article-distributor by articles being delivered to a receptacle, the said depending-element and the article-distributor being so constructed that the article-engaging surfaces thereof intersect for the purpose of aligning articles with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel with the bottom of the receptacle to which they are being delivered, at least one rib located on the article engaging surface of the inclined guide, and at least one rib located on the article-engaging surface of the depending-element, said ribs each being parallel with the bottom of a receptacle which is being filled and normal to the direction of movement of the receptacle while the latter is being filled.

10. Collecting mechanism comprising in com bination, means to move articles transversely to their longitudinal axes to a delivery position, means to move a receptacle lengthwise below said position so that articles are delivered first into one end of a receptacle and thereafter to successive positions along the length of the receptacle, a downwardly inclined guide to direct articles into a receptacle, a rotatable support, a plurality of paddles mounted on the support for movement therewith, said paddles having a component of movement in the direction of movement of a receptacle which is being filled so as to move articles in a receptacle away from said inclined guide and towards the leading wall of the receptacle, a downwardly depending element mounted for movement towards the article-distributor by articles being delivered to a receptacle, the said depending element and the article-distributor being so constructed that the article engaging surfaces thereof intersect for the purpose of aligning articles with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel with the bottom of the receptacle to which they are being delivered, a leveller-device extending lengthwise in the direction of movement of a receptacle which is being filled, said levelling-device co-operating with the article-distributor to determine the height of the articles in a receptacle, at least one rib on the rear surface of a paddle, at least one rib on the article engaging surface of said inclined guide, and at least one rib on the article engaging surface of the depending-element, said ribs each being parallel with the bottom of a receptacle which is being filled and normal to the direction of movement of the receptacle while the latter is being filled.

DESMOND WnLTEEt MOLIN S.

FELIX FREDERIC RUAU.

SAMUEL ROBERT CHOWN. 

